Zofran vial 8mg/4ml. Question about amount and withdrawing

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This is for IV administration and I'm using Zofran as an example. I only have access to a 3 ml syringe and I need all 8 mg of Zofran to inject into a 50 ml NS IV bag.

#1. Can I just, on the first withdrawal, get out Zofran as much as I can into the syringe, inject into the NS IV bag, then withdraw all the remaining from the vial?

Or should I...

#2. First withdrawal is 2 ml, inject, then withdraw 2 ml and inject?

Guess what I'm wondering is what's the chances of those vial having MORE than 4 ml if I use method #1? I don't want to OD my patient?

:confused:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
This is for IV administration and I'm using Zofran as an example. I only have access to a 3 ml syringe and I need all 8 mg of Zofran to inject into a 50 ml NS IV bag.

#1. Can I just, on the first withdrawal, get out Zofran as much as I can into the syringe, inject into the NS IV bag, then withdraw all the remaining from the vial?

Or should I...

#2. First withdrawal is 2 ml, inject, then withdraw 2 ml and inject?

Guess what I'm wondering is what's the chances of those vial having MORE than 4 ml if I use method #1? I don't want to OD my patient?

:confused:

You should measure it. Pretty much all vial/ampules have a small amount of overfill in them from the manufacture.

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I'd definitely measure, and not use the same syringe for the second withdrawal. :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

If you're running 8mg of Zofran into a 50mL bag for a Zofran drip, I don't think you'll have to worry too much about a Zofran overdose.

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Pretty much all vials have overfill so if you want to be exact I would measure it. For some things it doesn't matter but I think using the correct amount is a good habit to get into.

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Specializes in ICU.

Hmmmm, for some reason once again I get the feeling that a poor student is struggling with her homework questions. I'm not sure what to even make of the proposed question...seemed kinda like a no-brainer to me?

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Specializes in CICU.

I would put in a req for 5 and 10mL syringes...:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Occ. Hlth, Education, ICU, Med-Surg.
Hmmmm, for some reason once again I get the feeling that a poor student is struggling with her homework questions. I'm not sure what to even make of the proposed question...seemed kinda like a no-brainer to me?

exactly what I was thinking

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I'd pull up 2.4 and 1.6. All the while complaining that the hospital needs to get us some 5 and 10 ml syringes.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
exactly what I was thinking

Me too.....:cool: anyhow....

2+2 maintaining the integrity of the syringe and vial..

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Specializes in Obstetrics.
Hmmmm, for some reason once again I get the feeling that a poor student is struggling with her homework questions. I'm not sure what to even make of the proposed question...seemed kinda like a no-brainer to me?

I seriously hate comments like this. If she is struggling, why not ask her questions or help her figure it out? This is a nursing student assistance forum. I just don't get the whole 'condescending nature' of people sometimes. We've all been there, we've all struggled with things throughout school. Wonderful that it's a "no brainer" to you. Then maybe instead of making a comment to make the OP'er feel stupid, try explaining it so that she understands and maybe next time, the "poor student" will be able to figure it out on her own. :)

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